RANUNCULACEAE. 43 1 



Achenes 2-edged ; western species. 5. /'. venulosum. 



Flowers polygamous; leaflets usually glandular, or waxy ; stem leaves almost 

 sessile. 6. 1 . purpurascens. 



Filaments spatulate, often wider than the anthers ; plant not glandular. 



7. /'. polygamum. 



1. Thalictrum alpinum L. Arctic or Dwarf Meadow-Rue. (I. F. f. 

 1632.) Smooth or slightly glandular, 3-10 cm. high. Leaves small, tufted at the 

 summits of scaly rootstocks, biternate; leaflets cuneate-obovate or orbicular, firm, 

 3-5-lobed at the apex, margins revolute; panicle very simple, often racemose; 

 stamens about 10; anthers oblong-linear, mucronate; stigma linear; achenes 3 mm. 

 long, obliquely obovoid. Anticosti, Newf. and Arctic Am. Also in the Rocky 

 Mts., Cal. and in Europe and Asia. Summer. 



2. Thalictrum clavatum DC. Mountain Meadow-Rue. (I. F. f. 1633.) 

 Glabrous, branching, 1.5-6 dm. high. Leaves oval, ovate, or the terminal obovate- 

 cuneate, basal and cauline, large, biternate; leaflets thin, stalked, with 3 main 

 lobes and a few secondary ones, their margins not revolute; inflorescence cymose; 

 anthers oblong, blunt; achenes spreading, equalling their stipes or longer, obliquely 

 ovoid, narrowed at each end, flattened ; stigma minute. Mountains of Va. and W. 

 Va. to Ga.. Ala. and Tenn. May-June. 



3. Thalictrum dioicum L. Early Meadow-Rue. (I. F. f. 1634.) Glabrous, 

 erect, 3-6 dm. high, slender, leafy; leaves 3-4-ternate; leaflets pale beneath, often 

 cordate and the terminal one somewhat cuneate, 5-9-lobed; flowers greenish; pani- 

 cle elongated, of numerous lateral corymbs or umbels; filaments longer than the 

 sepals; achenes ovoid, sessile or minutely stipitate, deeply grooved, much longer 

 than the style. In woods, Lab. and Anticosti to Ala., west to Saskatch. and Mo. 

 April-May. 



4. Thalictrum coriaceum (Britton) Small. Thick-leaved Meadow-Rue. 

 (I. F. f. 1635.) Tall. 1-1.5 m. high. Stem striate, paniculately branched above; 

 leaves 3-4-ternate, short-petioled, the lower petioles expanded at the base into 

 stipule-like appendages; leaflets nearly white beneath, usually deeply and sharply 

 incised, the veins prominent on the lower surface; staminate flowers nearly white; 

 pistillate flowers purple; achenes oblong-ovoid, subacute, stalked, sharply ribbed, 

 longer than the persistent style. In open places, mountains of Va., N. Car. and 

 Ky. May-June. 



5. Thalictrum venulosum Trelease. Veiny Meadow-Rue. (I. F. f. 1636.) 

 Glabrous, pale green and glaucous, stem purplish, erect, or assurgent at the base, 

 15-6 dm. tall. Leaves 3-4-ternate, long-petioled; leaflets firm, obovate or sub- 

 orbicular, rounded at the apex, cuneate, obtuse or subcordate at the base, 8-16 mm. 

 long, 3-5-lobed, the lower surface rather prominently rugose-veined; anthers linear, 

 slender-pointed; achenes ovoid, nearly sessile, tapering into a short beak, thick- 

 walled, 2-edged. In dry soil, Manitoba and S. Dak. to the N. W. Terr, and Wash., 

 south to Colo. May-June. 



6. Thalictrum purpurascens L. Purplish Meadow-Rue. (I. F. f. 1637.) 

 Stout, erect, 1-2 m. high, leafy, branching above, glandular, pubescent or even 

 glabrous; leaves 3-4-ternate; leaflets thick, oblong or obovate, dark green above, 

 commonly waxy beneath, with revolute margins; anthers linear or linear-oblong, 

 cuspidate; stigma linear, persistent; achenes ovoid, glabrous or pubescent, short - 

 stipitate. with 6-8 longitudinal wings. In copses and woodlands, N. S. and Anticosti 

 to Fla., west to Saskatch. and Ariz. Stems often purplish. June-Aug. 



7. Thalictrum polfgamum Muhl. Tall Meadow-Rue. (L F. f. 1638.) 

 Stout, 1-2.5 m - high, branching, leafy, smooth or pubescent but not glandular nor 

 waxy. Leaves 3-4-ternate; leaflets moderately thick, light green above and paler 

 beneath, oblong, obovate or orbicular, with 3 main apical pointed or obtuse lobes; 

 flowers polygamous, white; anthers oblong, short; achenes ovoid, stipitate, 6-8- 

 winged, glabrous or pubescent. Lab. and Quebec to Fla., west to Ohio. 



28. ADONIS L. 



Leaves alternate, pinnately dissected into numerous linear segments. Flowers 

 yellow or red. solitary, terminal. Petals 5-16, conspicuous. Carpels oc , I-ovuled. 

 Achenes capitate or spicate, tipped with the persistent styles. [Mythological name 



